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Full Disclosure - California’s newly expanded premises and independent contractor liability case law is now more aligned with those of several other Western states.

Related Attorneys: Scott Shepard
Related Practices: Construction Claims & Litigation

BUILDERnews® Magazine - The California Supreme Court has recently raised the risk of liability for developers and builders constructing projects on their own real property for injuries suffered by independent contractors based on a failure by the developer or builder to disclose hazardous conditions on the property to the independent contractor.

Numerous potential nondisclosed hazardous conditions might create builder liability such as unstable soils/slide potential, presence of underground fuel tanks, presence of combustible underground natural gases, presence of lead or asbestos, unstable buildings in a remodel situation, or unstable trees near construction site. Prior to this recent decision, the independent contractor’s sole remedy was worker’s compensation insurance coverage.